Many countries have pledged to support Ukraine against the Russian occupation, but this must also mean standing by the women who bear the brunt of the war. The scale of the crisis requires a broadscale response that addresses the needs of women and children.
Lauren Leader and Michelle Nunn
All humanitarian crises disproportionately impact women, girls and people on the margins of society — and that’s especially true right now in Ukraine.
After all, most men have been prohibited from leaving the country, and Ukraine’s population is 54 percent female. Today, the ranks of Ukraine refugees teem overwhelmingly with the most vulnerable –women, children, the elderly, and the disabled. So, as the world grapples with how to respond to the estimated 3.3 million people who have been forcibly displaced, it’s essential to consider why and how the global response should be different as well.
For women caught in the conflict, there are an array of heightened dangers. An estimated 80,000 women in Ukraine are expected to give birth in the next three months, and many of them are without access to adequate maternal healthcare. In addition, 12,000 of those 80,000 women will require life-saving emergency obstetric and newborn care for complications in pregnancy.
It’s unclear how many pregnant, breastfeeding or new mothers have been displaced, where they are located and how they can get the critical services they need to prevent maternal and newborn mortality. According to the World Health Organization, 60 percent of preventable maternal deaths in the world take place in fragile settings, like Ukraine, where political conflict, displacement and disasters prevail. The humanitarian response must consider these women high priority.
It’s also important to remember that women and children crossing the border with no contacts or help are also at higher risk for trafficking and other forms of abuse. German authorities, for example, have issued a warning to refugees about accepting unsolicited help at train stations. In Poland, predators have targeted young girls traveling alone. Reports are emerging of sexual violence by Russian soldiers against Ukrainian women and girls who are fleeing the country. Without structured and safe support for women in place, criminals may step into the void.
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